Information about Mardin, Turkey
The city is located on the slope of a hill looking down south to the Mesopotamian plains and is on the rail and highway routes connecting Turkey to Syria and Iraq. Mardin is also situated in the area where the Southeastern Taurus Range meets the Arabian platform to the south.

The history of Mardin is said to have dated as far back as the Flood. The city was under the rule of the Hurri-Mitani, Hittites, Surs, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs and the Seljuk Turks. Mardin was formerly known as "Marde" by the Persians, "Mardia" by the Byzantine, "Maridin" by the Arabs and "Merde-Merdo-Merdi" by the Syriacs. The name of the city became "Mardin" after the Turks occupied the area. 

Mardin is a museum city full of twelfth and thirteenth century examples of Turkish architecture. The city, founded on the southern terraces of the hardened oil masses, which were active during the geological ages, is very unique and beautiful. The external facades of the houses in the city are ornamented like jewels. Midyat County is known especially for its extremely beautiful historical houses and silversmiths. A special silver processing art, which was called "Filigree" spread throughout Turkey from this area. Houses in Mardin, reflecting all the features of a closed-in life style are surrounded by 4 m high walls and isolated from the street. These walls also provide protection from harsh climatic conditions. Houses have their separate sections for males and females and mostly have no kitchen. The most important feature of these houses is the stone craftsmanship called "Midyat Work". Doors, windows and small columns are dressed with arches and various motifs. The central settlement was given the status of urban site area in 1979. Above the house doors are carved pictures of the Kaaba if the owner has made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and the doorknockers have a distinctive form resembling the beaks of birds. Often the lanes run through arched tunnels beneath the upper floors of houses. Relief carvings of animals and fruit lend the city a dream-like character, and the modern world seems to fade away. 

Syrian Orthodox gold and silver smiths whose work is famous throughout the country still practice their craft here, their workshops side by side with those of Muslim copper smiths. Along with the buildings themselves, it is to be hoped that this living culture can also be preserved. 

The Deyrulzaferan Monastery is among the interesting places around the city. The monastery, which is a Syriac monastery 9 kilometers to the east of Mardin, built in the 9th century was the religious center of the Syrian Christians and has a past of 1600 years. At present, it is a visiting place and a shelter for impoverished Syriacs. One of the biggest of many monasteries existing in the region, Deyrulzaferan has 52 Syriac Patriarchs buried here. The secret section for worshipping called "mahzen" is the oldest part of the monastery. The monastery was enlarged with additional sections built later. Around the structures, which form a trinity with Deyrulzaferan, Church of the Virgin Mary and Mar Yakup Monastery, there are three fortresses built for protecting the trinity. 

Mar Yakup Monastery derives its name from a priest (Marislium). It was later known as "Marevgan Monastery". According to hearsay, Marbinyamin, one of the heralds of the east had the bones of his oldest disciple buried here. The monastery was also knows as "Marhonesya" for a time. 

The museum is housed in the former Patriarchate constructed in 1895 by the Patriarch of Antakya, Ignatios Benham Banni. Now restored to its original condition, the building houses collections dating from 4000 BC up to the present day and representing the Assyrian, Urartian, Hellenistic, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Artuklu and Ottoman periods. Pottery, seals, cylinder seals, coins, lamps, figurines, teardrop bottles, and jewelry are among the many and fascinating exhibits. 

Mardin Castle (tenth century A.D.), the Grand Mosque (twelfth century), the Latifiye Mosque (fourteenth century) and the Kasimiye Madrasah (fifteenth century), located in the city, are worth seeing, and so is the Sultan Isa Medrese, dating from 1385, with its magnificent carved portal. 

The Kasim Pasa Medrese, is also significant for its dome of beautiful stonework and the Ulu (Grand) Mosque with its well-decorated minaret, is another mosque of great interest. 

The best examples of Artutid architecture can be seen at Kiziltepe, 21 km south of Mardin, with the 13th century Ulu Mosque with its fine mihrap relief and beautifully decorated portal. 

At Hasankeyf, on the border of the province of Batman, you will see the ruins of the ancient 12th century capital of the Artutids. The bridge that once connected the two parts of the city over the Tigris (Dicle) River and the palace, are others. Hasankeyf will be completely flooded when they will finish the nearby dam, a part of GAP Project. 

The 15th century Zeynel Bey Mausoleum nearby is attractively decorated with blue tiles.